TTP sponsored suicide bombing killed 14 people including nine security personnel in a market next to the Pakistan Army's General Headquarters (GHQ) On 20 January2014. A day earlier TTP killed 26 soldiers and wounded at least 25 others in the northwestern town of Bannu. The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) claimed the responsibility for the bombing which was the second high profile attack in the last 24 hours.

On 21 January 2014, at least 22 people were killed and 32 people were injured, which included 24 men and eight women when a powerful detonation ripped through a bus carrying Shia pilgrims in Balochistan's militancy-hit Mastung district, some 50 kilometers southwest of Quetta. In this regard, the banned militant outfit Jaish al Islam had claimed responsibility for the said attack.

Meanwhile, funeral Prayers for the martyrs of Rawalpindi's RA Bazaar bomb blast were held in the city. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif‚ high ranking army officers‚ and relatives of the martyrs attended the prayers. At this occasion COAS, expressed that the Pakistan Army will never allow a handful of terrorists and extremists to dampen its resolve to deal head-on with them and other security challenges.

Later on, the General has also shown determination of eliminating terrorism during a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The army chief said the Pakistan Army is fully equipped to tackle any challenge posed by the enemies of Pakistan. Both political and military leaders expressed concern over the sudden rise in the incidents of terror. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called off his visit to Switzerland in the wake of a deadly bomb attack on military convoy in Bannu. The prime minster was scheduled to attend the annual summit of World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

President Mamnoon Hussain, also condemned the brutal and coward action of TTP and stated that terrorists will be dealt with iron hands now. He also urged that the whole nation was united on the issue of terrorism, adding that sacrifices of security forces would not go in vain. In fact, the nation is now just demanding that political leaders should stand up with the security forces to eliminate these terrorists groups once for all.

Therefore, according to the credible sources, on 21 September at 1930 (GMT) Pakistani Air Force and Pakistan Military Aircrafts jointly have bombed suspected Taliban positions in North Waziristan, following a wave of attacks against security forces. In this

targeted operation they hunted more than 40 terrorists who were involved in various sabotage actions against security forces and innocent people in Peshawar and other areas of the country.

Despite government offer of negotiations, continuous wave of militancy not only shocked the country but it has taken aback by the supporters of talks with local Taliban. Moreover, it also put them in embarrassing situation within their own circle and the general masses. Every patriotic and peaceful citizen is worried about the security situation because of increasing domestic violence. How to establish peace and restore the writ of the government has turned into a great challenge to the ruling elites. During ongoing terrorism, just in the last 08 months, 1733 individuals including 351 security personnel have been killed and over 2050 injured.

For instance, in September 2013 terrorists attacked church and high military officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). In the first ambush of 15 September, in the roadside bomb attack, Maj Gen Sanaullah, Lt Col Touseef and Lance Naek Imran embraced Shahadat (martyrdom). They were returning after visiting the troops deployed on posts in the Upper Dir district of KPK, along the Afghan-Pakistan border. In the other attack of 29 Semtember, 2013 terrorists blasted a Church near Khan Raziq Police Station in Qissa Khawani bazaar of Peshawar and killed at least 42 people and more than 80 injured.

Recently, these so called religiously motivated militants also attacked at Peshawar TABLEEGHI MARKAZ and killed innocent people. Federal and provincial govts must carry out thorough investigations and the culprits brought to books. It would not be wrong in saying that a Muslim cannot do such kind of act against innocent human. Islam gives right to all the human beings to live according to their respective religions, customs and services. It protects the human rights of all minorities residing under Islamic society. Thus, the persons who carried out brutal action against our Christians' brothers are out of Islam and playing the foreign agenda. Therefore, hitting against Christians and other minorities would be considered as targeting Pakistan.

It is mentionable here that TTP has already claimed the lives of more than 50,000 civilians and nearly 5,000 security officials. Therefore, the time has come that now govt should decide to take stern actions against TTP, instead offering them negotiations. The political and armed forces leadership should come on same page to fight the terrorism.

Unfortunately, Pakistan is faced with extremely wicked, enigmatically elusive and subjectively imprecise threat posed by terrorism. The irony of the fate is that terrorists wear homogeneously accepted garbs as servants of Islam and use religion as their most effective mask and credible smokescreen. Their main pledges included demands for enforcement of Islamic system of governance by imposing Shariah Laws in the country, ending diplomatic relations with US and western world and undertaking JIHAD against non-Muslims. They became self-proclaimed campaigners of Islam rejecting all dissenting views and divergences on explicit explanations of Islamic jurisprudence.

Rigidly locked in their insular mind-set the terrorists (TTP) oppose the constitution of Pakistan, reject the system of governance, fight the Armed Forces and leave no stone unturned in promoting their politically motivated agenda to gratify their power motives. Whereas the terror attacks cause loss of lives, damage property and subjecting the entire nation with psychological pain and grief, the terrorists show least sense of compassion and openly rejoice their criminal strikes terming them as thriving business of carnage. In order to mark their signatures the terrorists are expanding their violent activities by targeting all unguarded, reticent and mute segments of society. The aim is to blow out their boasting audacity and show off their strength of defiance. Suicide bombings against Security Forces / LEAs presents one pattern, targeting shrines, schools, mosques and places of worship, religious gatherings, funerals and markets specially meant for women and children and children parks abundantly explain their un-Islamic patterns of behaviours.

In short, govt should devise some comprehensive strategy to deal with the terrorists with iron hands. Terrorists and their supporters should know that entire nation is proud of such brave sons of soil who have lost their lives while fighting the terrorists. This includes Police officers Ch Aslam (SHAHEED) and young student Aitzaz Hussan (SHAHEED).

TTP sympathizers that please start condemning them openly instead having soft corner due to one or other pretext. To give fair chance to the Taliban, PML (N) government called on APC and obtained “Blank Cheque” to start the peace process with them. On contrary to the government's offer of negotiations, TTP has further geared up its militant activities and started hitting government officials and buildings. Religious clerics must come forward to condemn such terrorist attacks and participate actively in countering the menace of terrorism. Different factions must hold collective conferences on faith related issues and society organized to fight the terrorists. In this regards, PTI Chief and Jaamat Islami (JI) leaders should collectively condemn terrorism as a phenomenon

A meaningful message must immediately be sent to the terrorists that the govt has the will and power to eliminate them. Although, in this connection govt has took lead in sending message through air strafing of terrorist's hideout in North Waziristan but still more need to be done. One has to remember that bloodshed must not be allowed to spread at the will of terrorists; therefore a comprehensive strategy must be launched to crush the criminal elements. The civil and other segments of masses are very rightly feeling now that there is a dire need to develop political will to fight the terrorists through well devised strategy and firm resolve. The writ of the govt must be established at all costs and all sundry be brought to the folds of law. Armed Forces are ready to force out terrorism as they did in Swat. Thus, the ball lies in the court of political Public demands that ruling political elite must take tough but rationale decisions without any further delay since time is running out while terrorists are getting stronger with every passing day.

The writer can be approached through zameer36@gmail.com

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